I'm not normally much into physical confrontations, although I do have a mouth on me, and I don't hesitate to use it.  I found out just a few minutes ago, though, how readily I will enter into a physical confrontation when someone almost kills my son because they're going fifty miles… Read full post »

I was watching a show on rituals, and got to wondering just how many of the things we routinely do date back to pagan rituals and superstitions.

 We all know about good luck charms: a rabbit's foot, a horseshoe, crossing our fingers (more on these later).  There's a ton of small… Read full post »

A couple of weeks ago, two teenagers were killed not far from here in a car wreck.  When I first heard about it on the news, it was reportedly a drunk driver that ran into their car, killing them both instantly.  I was saddened by the waste, but as I didn't… Read full post »

Okay, I'm gathering my courage for another poetry post.  This one was written last year sometime, for someone specific. 

 Gospel

His scars map
an uneasy life;
one child among many.
His cries,
lost in the cacophony
of those that came before,
trace his journey
to the other side.
A tight… Read full post »

I'm sure that Mother's Day brought it on – the musing on my mother's life that I've done today.

She was the second-to-youngest of seven children - the fifth daughter - born to a prosperous family in the South right before the Great Depression. My aunts all agree… Read full post »

I don't consider myself a poet.  Poetry generally intimidates me, for some reason, but this is one of very few that, although I wrote it awhile back, I don't cringe from embarrassment when I read it.

 One of Us

"She's not one of us,"
his mother said sideways.
The… Read full post »

My youngest son just passed his test for his yellow-striped belt in karate.  For those of you to whom it means anything, he takes lessons in Okinawan karate.  I've read a little bit on it, but not enough to be anywhere close to an expert.

 He likes me to go watch… Read full post »

I got an email from my ex today.  That, in and of itself, wouldn't have bothered me at all.  When we split, we both agreed it was for the best, but also agreed we would remain friends.  After all, a relationship that began as friends could surely end as friends.

 He… Read full post »

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..."

There it is, folks, the beginning of the first amendment to the constitution. How many of us actually think about that, or even notice how often the first amendment is violated with impuni… Read full post »